Mulberry: health benefits and harm, medicinal properties, composition. Mulberry tree: types of mulberry, beneficial properties of mulberry

Most of us are familiar with this berry as a mulberry. This was one of the most favorite sweets for many in childhood, from which, as I remember, it was difficult to wash my hands, teeth and tongue. But these are incredibly healing fruits that are used in folk medicine and are delicious, effective medicine at various diseases. For readers of “Popular about health” helpful information about what kind of berry this is - dried mulberry: beneficial features and we’ll name its contraindications, tell you how to use it, and give its calorie content.

Dried mulberry - beneficial properties and contraindications

Beneficial properties of dried mulberries

Sweet berries have excellent taste, and are also used as a basis for preparing homemade tinctures, compotes, and syrups. The tree got its name - mulberry - due to the fact that it attracts the insect silkworm. By feeding on the leaves, it forms a cocoon, from which silk is subsequently made. In addition, mulberry wood is a good material for creating musical instruments.

The peoples of the East consider the mulberry to be a sacred tree; they even make talismans and amulets from it.

The rich chemical composition makes mulberries unique and healthy. They contain vitamin complex(B1, B2, PP, A, C, beta-carotene), fructose and glucose, a number of organic acids. Per 100 grams of product there are 51 mg of magnesium, 25 mg of calcium, 350 mg of potassium, as well as sodium, selenium, zinc, copper and iron. Wherein white mulberry contains 4% of the daily requirement of iron for humans, and black - about 7%.

Fresh mulberries have a diuretic and diaphoretic effect. Thanks to the effect profuse sweating, they are recommended for swelling, colds. In addition, mulberry is an effective, very mild laxative that acts without irritating the gastrointestinal tract. But it is important to remember that not quite ripe berries have the opposite effect - a fixing effect.

Mulberry is considered an antioxidant, so it is recommended:

To prevent early aging processes in the body;

To strengthen immune system and increasing the body's resistance to infections and viruses;

To improve the condition of the retina and increase visual acuity.

For men's health mulberry is also necessary. It helps enhance testosterone production and also improves the quality of sperm, which is very important for couples planning to conceive. Mulberry will help get rid of impotence.

Mulberry also has a special effect on the female body. It reduces irritability during menopause, replenishes the deficiency useful components. Using mulberry juice you can stop bleeding ( Fresh Juice evaporate by 2 times, drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day).

During pregnancy, special attention should be paid to berries. This effective prevention virus and influenza, which is extremely undesirable for mother and fetus. Daily norm should not exceed 300 grams, this is enough to get a light diuretic effect with swelling. Mulberry is valued for its high phosphorus content, which is beneficial during pregnancy. It increases hemoglobin and can even increase the flow breast milk.

Contraindications for dried mulberries

In treatment natural products There are also some precautions. Mulberries should not be eaten on an empty stomach, nor should they be combined with other foods (except fruit salads). This is a powerful allergen, so it is better to avoid consuming large quantities and offer children starting with a minimum portion - 1-2 berries per day.

Calorie content of dried mulberries

There are only 50.5 calories per 100 grams of dry fruit. Wherein nutritional value consists of the following components:

0% fat;
- 0.7 grams of proteins;
- 12 grams of carbohydrates;
- 1.7 grams of dietary fiber;
- 0.9 grams of ash;
- about 1.5 grams of organic acids.

How can you use dried mulberries??

The berries are consumed fresh and dried. Both are great for making infusions and alcohol tinctures.

Antidepressant from dried mulberries: 2 tablespoons of dried fruits, pour 300 ml of boiling water. Leave for 4 hours, and after straining, drink a few sips.

One serving is for 1 day. This remedy will relieve insomnia, improve the functioning of the nervous system, relieve fatigue, tension and irritability.

Mulberry bark is effective preparation for ointments. For example:

Grind 2 tablespoons of bark;

Boil 100 ml of sunflower oil in a water bath;

Mix the ingredients until smooth and prepare an ointment, leave in the refrigerator for 3 days.

It will be effective folk remedy for treatment acne, skin abrasions, purulent formations, wounds and cuts.

When coughing: 1 tablespoon of dried berries and the same number of leaves, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for 30-40 minutes, strain and drink warm. To treat cough - 50 ml before meals, to relieve swelling - 1 glass at night.

You can wash wounds with this infusion so that they heal faster.

To enhance potency: Grind 1 kg of berries with 200 g of honey. Place the mixture in the refrigerator, take 1 teaspoon every day after lunch.

During menopause: 1 kg of ripe berries, pour 0.5 liters of water and put on low heat. After boiling, cook the mulberries for 30 minutes. Strain the broth, mix with 300 g of honey, carefully bring to a boil and cool. Take 1-2 spoons after meals twice a day.

The medical benefits of mulberries are formed mainly due to organic acids, since they have mild antipyretic, disinfectant, and anti-inflammatory properties. And vitamins, microelements and antioxidants act as rather preventive components. At the same time in medicinal purposes Not only mulberry berries are used, but also its tannin-rich bark, as well as leaves rich in phytoncides.

Compound

Typically, mulberry berries are colored a deep blue-black, but a white variety has now been developed. However, “white” berries in practice may turn out to be not only white, but also pink or red. So, the name of the variety is more about more light color her bark. The difference between white and black mulberries is that black mulberries are more fragrant. Plus, it contains more resveratrol (a polyphenol that is part of the coloring pigment of most fruits, from grapes to citrus fruits) - one of the natural antioxidants with antitumor properties.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is considered to be an even more effective antioxidant than vitamin E. At the same time, its human trials have yielded much better results. worst results for antioxidant and anticancer effects than in laboratory rats. This is probably due to either its low bioavailability in the human body or incorrectly calculated doses for testing. In any case, it performed best in direct contact with the tissues of a malignant tumor. So, its effect still cannot be considered zero.

Black grapes, black currants, black mulberries and all products prepared from them are rich in resveratrol. White mulberry berries contain almost no dye, which is why the concentration of resveratrol in them is lower. In addition, its aroma is more subtle and muted, which makes it a less successful base for cooking. various dishes- preserves, jams, baking fillings, wine.

Vitamins

And in addition to resveratrol, the following components can be found in mulberry fruits.

• Vitamin A. Necessary for skin regeneration (especially the epidermis), healthy hair and nails, and also indispensable for retina.
• B vitamins. True, there are only six or seven varieties out of twenty, but this entire group is very important for the functioning of the central nervous system and metabolic systems, such as the heart and blood vessels.
• Vitamin C. Maybe not so “anti-cold”, but necessary for the health of the skin, blood vessels and mucous membranes of the body.
• Vitamin D. Without which the absorption of calcium by the body either slows down or becomes impossible.
• Vitamin E. The main “agent” of skin elasticity, as well as healthy hair and nails, similar in biological role with retinol (vitamin A).
• Vitamin K. Relatively rare in nature (most of it is found in spinach). Vitamin K is produced in sufficient quantities by our own liver. However, if for some reason this does not happen, its deficiency can cause decreased blood clotting and even hemophilia (failure of the coagulation system).

Mineral components

Contains berries and minerals.

• Potassium. One of the main regulators of the tone of all muscles, including the heart, in the direction of increasing it. Excess potassium in the bloodstream (most of it is found in cells) can cause heart attack, and its deficiency is dehydration.
• Magnesium. A potassium antagonist based on the principle of influencing the cardiovascular and muscular systems with a normalizing and calming effect.
• Calcium. Important not only for teeth and skeletal bones, but also for maintaining contractility muscles, normal operation peripheral neurons of the central nervous system.
• Sodium. Regulator water-salt metabolism in the body, consumed primarily in the form of sodium chloride ( table salt) and promotes both retention and uniform distribution of fluid in tissues.
• Iron. What makes mulberry not only tart and astringent in taste, but also extremely useful for hematopoiesis, since it is with the participation of iron that hemoglobin is synthesized (a “sponge” for absorbing various gases at the base of the red blood cell).
• Manganese. Basically, heavy metal, in case of overdose having toxic effect on the body. But in tiny doses, it participates in hematopoiesis, as does iron, and also regulates the activity of endocrine glands(in particular, sexual ones).
• Selenium. Necessary for the formation of hair follicles in both sexes and sperm in men. The female body it is required in relatively small quantities. But among representatives of the stronger sex, a constant deficiency of selenium can cause oily seborrhea (dandruff), infertility and alopecia (baldness).

The composition of mulberry leaves and bark is somewhat different. They contain much less vitamins, although the composition of microelements and minerals may be even wider. But they are rich in tannins - moderately toxic components with an astringent taste and properties natural antibiotics. Tannins provide a more pronounced effect than that of food acids, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect However, the bark of any trees and shrubs, not just mulberries, is saturated with them, since they protect plants from pests. Highest concentration tannins in oak bark, which is where their name comes from.

Mulberries are rich in sugar - both glucose and fructose. We are talking about much sweeter fruits than even plums or peaches, although the abundance of vitamin C somewhat “masks” their sweetness. Mulberry is not indicated for use in diabetes mellitus precisely because it can significantly increase glycemic index food eaten. And in therapeutic purposes diabetics are advised to use mulberry leaves or its bark.

Useful properties of mulberries

Indications for the use of mulberry concern not only its berries - its leaves and bark are also used in folk medicine (however, since the end of 2011, the latter has been prohibited by Russian legislation). Even mulberry root is often used as an alternative to bark, although its actual effectiveness is the same as that of bark.

• Berries. Mulberry berries are most beneficial for the eyes, since they contain a lot of vitamin A - retinol, which is necessary for the functioning of the light-sensitive elements of the eye retina. But they are also used to lower blood pressure and eliminate edema of any etiology, since mulberry fruits are effective as a diuretic. Interesting feature Another advantage of mulberry berries is that after ripening they acquire pronounced laxative properties, while while still green (that is, white), on the contrary, they stop diarrhea. Only black mulberry berries are effective against reduced hemoglobin and anemia due to the presence of iron in them, and all their varieties are recommended for consumption by men suffering from dandruff or infertility (due to the presence of selenium in mulberries).
• Leaves. Brewing tea from mulberry leaves is useful during prediabetes and pancreatitis (acute or chronic inflammation pancreas, which is often provoked by diabetes mellitus or, conversely, leads to its development). The tannins in their composition help reduce the intensity of inflammation or even completely remove it. And the bitter-astringent taste of the drink, combined with a tart aroma, improves peristalsis of the stomach and intestines, increases appetite, stimulates the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice into the cavity duodenum. However, mulberry itself does not treat diabetes mellitus - it does not contain components capable of this. A decoction and infusion of mulberry leaves/bark is also used to rinse hair after washing - to get rid of dandruff and strengthen its structure with vitamins A, D and E.
• Bark. Treatment of coughs with mulberries is only slightly less popular than with raspberries, although its fruits are similar to raspberries in composition and therapeutic effect. Only in the case of mulberries, the bark, rather than the berries, is often used to rinse the mouth and throat. Preparations based on mulberry bark are used to treat sore throat, tartar, periodontal disease caused by it, and tonsillitis. It relieves the course of sinusitis, pain in acute and chronic pulpitis. It is also effective against candidiasis, herpes and a number of other diseases. oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. But, again, we are not talking about unique properties mulberry itself, since similar or even better results can be achieved by rinsing the mouth with a decoction of oak bark, St. John's wort, celandine and other herbs rich in tannins. Its decoction or infusion (you can add leaves) is used as a facial treatment, since mulberry helps eliminate inflammation, redness, enlarged pores, improve skin color and increase its elasticity.

By for obvious reasons(staining a persistent bluish-purple tint) black mulberry juice should not be used as a face mask. However, white mulberries with fruits no darker than pink ones are a different matter. It has almost all the properties and advantages of its chokeberry “sister” (except for some antioxidants in the berry dye), but, unlike it, does not leave colored stains on the skin and clothes.

Admission restrictions

In the same time medicinal properties mulberries do not apply to cases.

• Diabetes mellitus. Due to the high content of sugars of different types.
• Allergies. For any herbal products or extracts, even if they have nothing to do with mulberry.
• Gout. Because, contrary to the common misconception in folk medicine, taking mulberry with it is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the components in mulberry berries can slow down the development of inflammation in the joints and kidneys affected by gout. On the other hand, this disease disrupts the metabolism of all food acids, not just uric acid. In other words, the same vitamin C in mulberry can worsen gout instead of improving it. Plus, its diuretic properties become dangerous in the presence of any kidney stones, including urates (there is a risk of their movement, which is fraught with colic and blockage of the urinary tract).
• Hyperacidosis. Or increased acidity stomach, as well as gastritis and ulcers, against which hyperacidosis often occurs. Mulberry berries are rich in ascorbic and some other acids, the presence of which in the stomach, if its own acidity is increased, will only worsen the current symptoms of heartburn and aggravate its possible consequences.

Another contraindication concerns the use of preparations from mulberry leaves and bark during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The harm of mulberry to the fetus's body is unlikely to be great, since it is not toxic, unlike the same celandine or bird cherry, fighter, calamus. But this only applies to its berries. And the tannins in its leaves and roots can hardly be called as beneficial for it, especially if it is healthy and develops normally.

In addition, you need to remember that in mild cases (colds, pathologies of the oral cavity, digestive tract and skin), its berries can cope with the situation no worse than leaves or bark. Meanwhile, they do not contain truly unsafe tannins that freely penetrate the placenta, and at the same time are better saturated with antioxidants, anti-carcinogenic agents and vitamins.

Side effect

Despite good feedback about the results of treatment with mulberry, it still has some “incompatibility” with certain diseases. As for the side effects from taking it, the lion's share of them are allergic reactions, since vitamin C in berries and mulberry leaves tends to irritate immune protection. In addition, consuming its fruits in ripe or green form can even affect healthy digestive tract in favor of relaxation (ripe mulberry) or, on the contrary, constipation (green mulberry).

Preparing for the winter and making medicines

Mulberry is a fragile berry and easily wrinkles, which is why even in the refrigerator it can be stored for no more than two days. And transporting it over long distances without crushing it is even more difficult than raspberries. The easiest way to store it for the winter is in dried form. Regarding how to dry mulberries for the purpose of harvesting them, we can say that it is approximately the same as any other berries or even drupes, just in two stages instead of one.

First, the mulberries need to be laid out in one layer on clean (that is, devoid of even pictures or text) sheets of paper in the shade, in a dry, warm and well-ventilated room, and left for a couple of weeks, stirring occasionally. Then you need to pour the mulberries onto a baking sheet, preheat the oven to 40 ° C and dry them in it, leaving them at the specified temperature for an hour. But mulberry leaves and bark do not require oven drying. The leaves need only a week of drying in hot summer air, and the bark - two weeks. They can then be poured into paper bags or tin jars, closed and stored in a dark, cool, dry place.

In cooking, mulberries are used very widely, making alcoholic drinks from them (wine and vodka, called mulberry), filling for confectionery, jam. There are even recipes for making a special type of mulberry honey called “bekmes”.

But making mulberry jam at home is undesirable, since most other vitamins are easily destroyed by temperature. It is much more reasonable to grind its ripe fruits in a blender with sugar (for half a kilo of berries - a glass of granulated sugar) and a teaspoon lemon juice, and then put into jars without rolling and sterilizing. But if other solutions are unavailable for some reason, it will also turn out tasty - just a little less healthy.

Peculiarities. It is best to add the resulting product to tea instead of sugar, as it has pronounced warming properties and promotes hematopoiesis, although it loses part of its ability to influence feverish conditions, sore throat and joint pain.

You will need:

• kilogram of ripe mulberries;
• dessert spoon of citric acid;
• kilogram of granulated sugar.

Preparation

1. Wash the mulberries, dividing them into several portions, under running water, and place them in a bowl for making jam.
2. Add sugar to the mulberries, mix gently and leave for six to eight hours until they release juice.
3. Place the bowl with the berries on the stove and bring to a boil. Cook, without reducing the flame, for six to seven minutes, stirring vigorously.
4. Then remove the mulberries for another five minutes, put them back on the stove and repeat the boiling and short cooking several times (five or six on average) until the mulberries and sugar mixture thickens.
5. When the mulberry jam is ready, add citric acid, mix, put into jars and roll up.

Decoction

Peculiarities. This remedy is used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. You need to take it one third of a glass, three or four times a day, ten minutes before meals, for two weeks. Afterwards, you can take a break for a week and, if necessary, repeat the course.

You will need:

• a heaping tablespoon of dry/fresh mulberry leaves;
• a glass of boiling water.

Preparation

1. Grind the leaves by cutting (fresh) or breaking (dry) them, put them in an enamel bowl, add boiling water.
2. Place the bowl with leaves on water bath, bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium and leave to simmer gently for ten minutes.
3. Remove the broth from the heat, cool without covering, and strain. Bring the volume of the resulting decoction to the initial volume (250 ml) with boiled water.

Infusion

Peculiarities. You should take half a glass of dried mulberry fruit infusion, three times a day, between meals, for a week. Then you should take a five to seven day break and resume the course.

You will need:

• two tablespoons of dried mulberries;
• a glass of boiling water;
• thermos with glass inner flask.

Preparation

1. Crumble the dry mulberries with your fingers and place everything, including the stalks, in a heated thermos.
2. Pour fresh boiling water, close the lid and leave to infuse for at least four hours, shaking the infusion periodically.
3. Strain the resulting product through three layers of gauze.

Dry mulberry infusion is suitable for the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, pneumonia, intestinal dysbiosis and diarrhea much more better than jam from her fresh fruits. The medicinal properties of mulberries prepared in this way can also help strengthen antiviral immunity in the autumn-winter period, since most of the vitamin C it contains can be preserved with this method of infusion.

Mulberry composition:

What does mulberry treat?

• Mulberry is good source resveratrol, powerful plant matter, which according to doctors can prevent cancer. The berries of this plant contain many antioxidants that inhibit cell growth prostate gland, slowing tumor growth. Besides a large number of antioxidants prevents pathological changes at the cellular level, thus stopping the mutation and preventing the appearance of cancer cells.
• Reduces the risk of education and strokes by improving blood circulation and is useful as an anti-inflammatory agent.
• Berry juice may help relieve some symptoms of anemia and prevent heart disease.
• Purifies the blood, improves blood circulation and helps strengthen the entire system.
• Mulberries are an excellent antidepressant that can not only calm the nerves, but also increase metabolism after drinking alcohol, being an excellent remedy for a hangover.
• Cleanses the liver and strengthens the kidneys.
• Mulberry is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, which makes it a natural immunity booster, prevents flu, cough and cold, and helps with gastritis and chronic hepatitis.
• The juice is very useful for patients after surgery - it speeds up healing, improves blood circulation and prevents infection.
• Mulberries contain compounds that control blood sugar in diabetics. Flavonoids in berries prevent the rise and fall of glucose levels in patients, being the most effective means to prevent complications during high sugar.
• Strengthens the nervous system and reduces bad cholesterol, preventing the formation of blood clots and thereby reducing the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
• Regular consumption of mulberries can improve appetite.
• Boosts immunity and prevents dehydration. Patients suffering from a lack of fluid in the body should take ten milligrams of mulberry daily.
• A glass of mulberry juice can significantly improve vision thanks to high content vitamin A, which strengthens vision and relieves eye strain, ideal for people who spend for a long time at computer. It also protects the eyes from free radicals, which are often the main cause of vision loss and retinal degeneration.

Beneficial properties for skin and hair

• help save smooth skin,
• reduce the appearance of age spots,
• maintain shine and health of hair by preventing the oxidative effects of free radicals.

Mulberry for skin

• Leaves of the tree should be infused in hot water for 30 minutes. The result is an excellent tincture for treating skin problems, as well as colds, sore throat, and high fever.
• Mulberry leaves can be used to treat dry and irritated skin by soaking them in olive oil for a few days and then applying this oil to the skin. The result will be an excellent natural
• Leaves steamed in boiling water can open pores well and also detoxify the body when used in a bathhouse or sauna. The steam containing mulberry leaf extract allows the body to sweat and regulate the body's metabolism.

Benefits for hair

• Mulberry rejuvenates hair follicles and thereby promotes hair growth, preventing hair loss. Doctors advise patients undergoing chemotherapy to take these berries, as the hair follicles are rejuvenated by the substance extracted from the berries.
• Mulberry extract is a safe and natural alternative to chemical or surgical treatment from hair loss. To do this, you just need to apply the juice to your hair, which will promote its growth and strengthening.
• Drinking mulberry juice on a regular basis helps maintain natural hair color. This is great news for women who suffer from premature gray hair. To do this you need:
  • Mix 400 g of berries and 0.5 l. water,
  • Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
  • Leave for 24 hours
  • After 24 hours, add 3 cups of brown sugar or other natural sweetener to the mixture and cook until desired consistency.
  • The syrup can be stored in previously sterilized bottles.
  • Use several times a day, diluting with water.

Mulberry contraindications for women and men

• It is better to prevent excessive consumption during pregnancy and lactation, since today the effect of berries on the fetus and infants under 6 months has not yet been fully studied. However, small quantities are allowed.
• The American Diabetes Association (ADA) tested the effect of mulberry extract on blood sugar intake in 20 people. Ten of the twenty were non-diabetics, and the other 10 had type 2 diabetes and were taking medication for the disease. Both groups of people were diagnosed with decreased initial glucose levels after consuming sugar.
  A compound called 1-deoxynogirimycin, or DNJ, is the main culprit in this problem. β-Glucosidase inhibitors, such as acarbose and mulberry extracts, are thought to enhance the effects of certain drugs, leading to a sudden drop in blood sugar levels. This adverse side effect of mulberry is particularly harmful and can disrupt the blood sugar balance in the body.
• Risk cancer diseases is one of the most dangerous side effects of mulberry, which is included in many skin care products. The extract of this plant contains arbutin, a compound that helps lighten the skin, making it whiter, a hydroquinone that prevents the release of melanin by the enzyme tyrosinase.
  A study conducted by French scientists in 2010 showed that hydroquinone may be a direct cause of cell carcinoma. Hydroquinone carcinogenic side effects have been studied in animals. Although arbutin is more soft form hydroquinone, it can still cause skin cancer.
• Researchers at Nihon University in Tokyo have discovered that albanol A, a substance extracted from mulberry root bark, can induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. And if for healthy people This is good, then it is better for patients undergoing chemotherapy to refrain from taking it without the doctor’s permission.
• The use of mulberries is known to change the levels of sugar and several other components in the blood. Therefore it is recommended before surgical intervention Stop taking berries at least two weeks in advance to prevent unwanted side effects.
• Mulberries contain a large amount of potassium, which is beneficial for the body. However, in people with kidney disease or in cases renal failure Excessive use of these berries increases the stress on them, which worsens their condition.

Harvesting mulberries for treatment:

The bark should be harvested in the spring, the fruits in July - August, the roots in the fall. The raw materials should be dried in the sun for 2 - 3 days, then dried in a well-ventilated area, stirring from time to time. The bark is usually stored in fabric bags for 2 - 3 years, the buds - 1 year, the leaves and fruits are stored for 1.5 - 2 years.

Treatment with mulberry juice:

The juice of the fruit has an expectorant, diaphoretic and diuretic effect, regulates the activity of the intestines and the cardiovascular system. At local use it exhibits wound-healing and bactericidal effects. Leaves and buds regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism. The fruits, juice and their infusion are indicated for diarrhea, acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma and as a means of enhancing the separation and dilution of sputum. The fruits have a positive effect in the treatment of obesity and heart defects.

Preparation of mulberry infusion:

To prepare the infusion, pour 2 tablespoons of crushed dry or fresh fruits with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 4 hours and filter through 3-4 layers of gauze. Take 1/3 - 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day before meals.

The juice is prepared in the usual way and diluted with water 1:2. The juice of fresh leaves is used to treat toothache. The bark is thoroughly ground into powder and mixed with vegetable oil (1:30) - olive, corn or sunflower - and used to treat wounds, bruises, ulcers, cuts, scratches.

Recipes for decoction of mulberry leaves:

To prepare a decoction, pour 1 tablespoon of raw material into 1 glass hot water, boil in a water bath for 10 - 15 minutes, cool, filter, bring the volume to the original volume. Take 1/4 - 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day before meals.

• A decoction of the leaves is used to treat diabetes. It has been noted that fruit infusion has a positive effect in mild forms of diabetes. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to use dry or fresh fruits mulberries 250 - 300 g per day. For the same purpose, you can add dry crushed leaves to food.
• For diabetes, take 200 ml of mulberry juice with a tablespoon of honey 3 times a day before meals.
• When coughing, drink a decoction of the bark of the white mulberry trunk. Single dose 5-10 g per 200 ml of boiling water.
• The fruits and fruit juice are recommended for swelling in the mouth and throat, for dysentery and as a diuretic.
• The pulp and juice from fresh mulberry fruits are used as an anti-dandruff remedy that promotes hair growth. To this end, at scalp On the head at night, apply a cloth bandage with gruel or juice for 3 - 8 hours.
• For senile constipation and hemorrhoids traditional healers It is recommended to take fresh mulberry fruits every day before breakfast and subsequently 3-4 times a day before meals.
• Tea and aqueous extracts from the leaves of seedless white mulberry are widely used in Tajik folk medicine for treatment. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, some mental illness and epilepsy, and also as a diuretic. Infuse 1 - 2 tablespoons of mulberries in 1 liter of boiling water, add honey to taste and drink 100 - 130 ml 2-3 times a day before meals as an antipyretic.
• If you lose strength, take 300 ml of mulberry juice, squeezed from ripe white and black mulberries, equally, with a tablespoon of honey three times a day before meals.

Preparation of fruit infusion and recipes:

2 tablespoons of crushed fresh or dry raw materials per 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 4 hours, strain. Take 1/3-1/4 cup 3-4 times a day before meals for diarrhea. This infusion should be taken 1/2 - 1/4 cup 3 - 4 times a day before meals for acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia as a means of increasing the separation and dilution of sputum.

Dilute the fruit juice with water (1:2), take 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day before meals for diarrhea and as an expectorant for pneumonia. Traditional medicine uses mulberry bark as a wound healing agent.

Mulberry healing ointment:

From tree trunk bark powder vegetable oil prepare a liquid ointment (1:30), which is used to lubricate scratches, cuts, ulcers and wounds.

Oriental medicine recipes:

• In Korea, mulberry buds are collected in winter and an infusion of them is drunk for illnesses. of cardio-vascular system, as well as in obesity.
• In China, a decoction of mulberry roots is used to treat diabetes, kidney failure, and impotence. Decoction recipe: 3 g of crushed dry roots per 1 glass of water. Boil for 20 minutes. over low heat, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
• Chinese traditional medicine also uses a decoction of mulberry root to treat hypertension. Pour 2 tablespoons of crushed bark into 0.5 liters of boiling water, boil for 40 minutes. over low heat, leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink throughout the day instead of water.
• To lower blood sugar levels, mulberries are also used in the Balkans, but they take leaves rather than bark. In Japan, mulberry flowers are used to make a cream to remove freckles, blemishes and pimples on the skin.

Contraindications to treatment and precautions for consuming mulberries:

After eating fresh mulberries, you should not drink cold water. Otherwise, rumbling, bloating, and often diarrhea occur. Diabetics and hypertensive patients should not consume large quantities of sweet varieties of mulberries. In diabetics, blood sugar levels increase; in hypertensive patients, especially in hot weather, blood pressure may increase.

Description of the mulberry tree: a low tree (up to 15 m in height) lives on average 300 years. There are old-timer mulberry trees that are already about 500 years old. The fruit is a complex drupe, like blackberries and raspberries, but sweeter and more tender. It has an elongated shape, reaches 1.5 cm in length (and in some varieties it grows up to 2-3 cm). There are varieties with juicy, sweet berries of white, pink, purple with a pleasant aroma.

The most common types of mulberry are 2: black and white. White mulberry produces light fruits with a subtle, barely noticeable aroma. The bark is gray or pale brown. Homeland - Eastern China. Black mulberry came to us from Southwest Asia and is distinguished by its dark red-brown bark. Its fruits are intensely cherry, purple or almost black in color, contain more organic acids than the berries of the white variety, and therefore taste sweet with noticeable sourness. They have a stronger, pleasant aroma.

Various parts of this valuable plant are used in many industries. The fruits, roots and leaves of mulberries have unique beneficial properties and are used in medicine. Produced from mulberry wood musical instruments, decorative and household products. Trees are often used in landscape design, for landscaping industrial areas and securing slopes.

Composition of berries, calorie content

Mulberries are a source of valuable vitamins and minerals, essential oils and organic acids.

Nutritional value and chemical composition per 100 g of product:

The glycemic index of different mulberry varieties differs. For white mulberry it varies between 25–32, and for black mulberry it is 24–27.

Useful properties and applications

All parts of the mulberry tree find their use in various areas: the leaves are used as food for the silkworm, the bark and roots are actively used in folk medicine, various household and decorative products and musical instruments (utars, sazs, rubobs, tanburs) are made from the wood. But the most popular product remains the tasty and juicy mulberry fruit.

Use in cooking

Mulberry fruits have long been used in cooking. They are prepared from:

• drinks (jelly, juices, wine);

• healthy and tasty preparations (mulberry honey, jam, jam);

• pie fillings;

• dried fruits;

• oriental sweets (marshmallow, sherbet).

Everyone, young and old, enjoys fresh berries. IN fresh Mulberries can be stored for no more than 3 days in the refrigerator. It also cannot be transported over long distances. Therefore, the berries are dried and jam, syrup, and drinks are prepared from them. Dried mulberry perfectly preserves its taste qualities. In this form, it is very useful and can replace any sweets.

After heat treatment The berries do not lose their beneficial properties, so you can prepare jam when fresh berries are unavailable. Mulberry jam is not only tasty treat, but also a healthy remedy that helps with heart disease, hypertension, and colds. The jam recipe is simple:

• 1 kg of berries;

• 800 g sugar;

• 1 pinch of citric acid.

The berries are sprinkled with sugar and left for 30-40 minutes so that they release the juice. Then the jam is placed on low heat. After boiling, cook for 10 minutes and turn off. After 8 hours, add citric acid and cook for 5 minutes after boiling. Now all that remains is to put the product into a sterilized container and screw it up.

It is undesirable to exceed the specified sugar norm, because the berry itself is very sweet. Since mulberry fruits contain more than 80% water, a lot of syrup is formed during the process of making jam. To make the jam thicker, the syrup can be separated and prepared separately. To treat colds, sore throat, bronchitis, cough, syrup is prepared from berries without adding sugar, by boiling. To enhance the effect, leaves of this plant are added to the syrup during cooking.

Mulberry syrup is also called mulberry honey. To prepare it, add 100 ml of water and 1 kg of sugar to 1 kg of berries, cook for at least 1 hour over fire. After cooling, filter, squeeze with a press, separating the dry residue. The resulting syrup is simmered over low heat for 6 to 24 hours, periodically removing the foam and stirring. It is better to store doshab in a glass container. It is useful for diseases respiratory system, gastrointestinal organs, with a decrease male potency, depression and chronic fatigue, women during menopause.

Some agricultural enterprises grow mulberries for wine production. You can also prepare it at home. For this purpose, only ripe fruits are collected. They add sugar, a little water, and lemon juice. After fermentation, the wine is poured into dark wine bottles and sealed. Gourmets value it very much for its characteristic taste and beneficial properties. Lovers of stronger drinks will appreciate mulberry vodka made from sweet aromatic berries.

Use in folk medicine

In the east, the mulberry tree has always been revered and called the tree of life. It was believed that its sweet fruits restored vision, prolonged life, and filled the body with strength and energy. Modern scientific data about the rich chemical composition confirm ancient knowledge. Mulberry fruits contain malic, citric and other organic acids, essential oils, pectin compounds and flavonoids.

Anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant found in black mulberry fruits, binds free radicals and prevents destruction cell membranes. Resveratrol slows down the aging process of cells and prevents the development of tumors. A valuable vitamin and mineral complex helps the body maintain normal metabolic processes and fight vascular and heart diseases. Effective preparations are made from mulberry berries. medicinal products with a wide spectrum of action. They are used as:

• choleretic;

• anti-inflammatory;

• diuretic;

• mild laxative.

Such a drug will be useful for hypertension, diseases of the kidneys, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, with a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood (especially black mulberry berries), to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Berries are useful for elderly people, children and pregnant women in any form: fresh, dried, boiled.

Easy laxative effect The benefits that overripe fruits provide will allow them to be used to prevent constipation. When unripe, they have a fixing effect. Mulberry juice helps in the separation of mucus, therefore it is effective as an expectorant for bronchitis and prolonged cough.

Ointments and decoctions are made from mulberry bark to treat some skin diseases, abrasions, ulcers. A decoction of mulberry leaves is used as an effective hypoglycemic, multivitamin and tonic. A decoction of mulberry bark and leaves effectively relieves inflammation and heat during colds, cleanses the blood of toxins, stimulates hematopoietic function and helps with anemia, removes excess liquid from the body.

Application of mulberry leaves, bark and wood

In the East, the mulberry tree has always been considered a sacred tree; everything in it, from the berries to the roots, was revered. IN ancient China Paper was made from its bark. The medicinal properties of this plant are still used in folk medicine. Bast is used to make cardboard and rope. Dye is obtained from leaves and bark yellow color. In Japan, mulberry is used to make paper for money.

Mulberry wood is highly valued. It is heavy and dense, comparable to beech and oak, easy to process, does not crack or dry out over time, and has a rich texture. That is why from her to Central Asia they made musical instruments, amulets, decorative items, dishes, and barrels. Today, exclusive furniture and expensive parquet are made from mulberry. All products retain their shape perfectly.

Mulberry firewood is generally priceless. When smoked and fried on mulberry wood, the meat acquires a delicate and sweetish taste. But such firewood is practically never available for sale. The leaves are used to feed the silkworm caterpillar, from whose cocoons natural silk is produced.

Thanks to the beauty of their dense crowns, mulberry trees are indispensable in landscape design. Dwarf varieties with a spherical crown and decorative weeping mulberries are used for landscaping parks, gardens, settlements. Trees with a pyramidal crown look beautiful as hedges and in group ensembles. Leaf resistance to atmospheric pollution allows you to plant mulberries in industrial areas. These low, neat trees have a very powerful root system, so they are planted on slopes to prevent landslides.

Contraindications and harm

Mulberries are beneficial for people of all ages. The only contraindication is individual intolerance, which is very rare. Mulberry is important for the health of expectant mothers. But you should strictly follow the norm, eat no more than 250 g of ripe quality berries per day. At the same time, you need to make sure that there is no burden on the kidneys, because mulberry has a diuretic effect.

Mulberries are also beneficial for nursing women. To prevent the pantry of vitamins from harming the baby, berries should be introduced into the menu during this period with caution, a few pieces a day. If a child develops allergies, colic or bloating, it is better to temporarily stop using it.

No strict contraindications by use for diabetics, people with low blood pressure and hypertensive patients. These people are recommended to consume juicy berries in in moderation, then they have a beneficial effect on the body, lowering blood sugar levels and normalizing blood pressure. Overeating can lead to intestinal upset, diarrhea and worsening diabetes symptoms. It is not advisable to eat berries on an empty stomach or drink them with water.

Selection and storage of berries

Mulberry fruits are collected in June–August. Immediately after collection they are sent for processing. If this is not done, then in about a day the yeast fungi living on the surface of the berries will start fermentation processes. Mulberries can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days if the fruits are not too ripe. They cannot be transported fresh.

The technology for drying berries is very labor-intensive. It is no less difficult to preserve the berries without access to moisture after drying. The packaging must be sealed. IN winter time You can enjoy the taste of mulberry in the form dried berries or prepared jam for future use.